Character Analysis Fill in the table below about some of the characters in the story. Summarise their role in the story and their relaonship with the other characters. Then choose the relevant character descripons from the list below (remember, each descripon may apply to more than one character!). Finally, provide evidence from the story to show how each of the character descripons relates to the character. www.iclassicscollecon.com Educaon Program iClassics Collecon - iLondon Name(s) Character descripon(s) Relaonship to other characters Evidence for character descripon What is their role in the story? KEESH IKEEGA UGH-GLUK KOSH-KWAN BIM & BAWN THE STORY OF KEESH by Jack London Brave Clever Craſty Wise Accusatory Loving Fair
Transcript
Character Analysis
Fill in the table below about some of the characters in the story. Summarise their role in the story and their relationship with the other characters. Then choose the relevant character descriptions from the list below (remember, each description may apply to more than one character!). Finally, provide evidence from the story to show how each of the character descriptions relates to the character.
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Name(s)Character description(s)
Relationship to other characters
Evidence for character description
What is their role in the story?
KEESH
IKEEGA
UGH-GLUK
KOSH-KWAN
BIM & BAWN
THE STORY OF KEESH by Jack London
Brave Clever
CraftyWise
Accusatory Loving
Fair
Matching exercise
1. Match each phrase from the story with an image.
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iClassics Collection - iLondonTHE STORY OF KEESH by Jack London
4 D
6
7
F
G
3 C
5 E
2 B
1 A
The father of Keesh had been a brave man, but he had met his death in a time
of famine, when he sought to save the lives of his people by taking the life
of a great polar bear.
Across his shoulders he bore a burden of fresh-killed meat. And there was
importance in his step and arrogance in his speech.
Then did the bear grow angry, and rise up on his hind legs, and growl. But Keesh walked right up to the bear.
But as he ran he dropped a little round ball on the ice. And the bear stopped
and smelled of it, then swallowed it up.
The bear wandered, now this way and now that, doubling back and forth and crossing his trail in circles, so that at the end he was near where Keesh had first come upon him. By this time he was quite sick, the bear, and
could crawl no further.
“I have but devised a mean whereby I may kill the ice-bear with ease, that is
all. It be headcraft, not witchcraft.”
Because he exercised headcraft and not witchcraft, he rose from the meanest
igloo to be head man of his village.
Glossary
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Gale (n) a very strong windVenture (v) to set off on a risky or daring journeyFamine (n) extreme scarcity of foodDeed (n) an intentional actionEre (preposition) before (in time)Mean (adj) small and of poor qualityOfttimes (adv) oftenAghast (adj) filled with horrorThou (pronoun) youHast (v) old-fashioned second person singular of haveDost (v) old-fashioned second personal singular of doWherefore (adv) as a result of whichIndignation (n) anger or annoyance at unfair treatmentPresumption (n) behaviour perceived as disrespectful and inappropriateUnprecedented (adj) never done beforeAssail (v) come upon someone suddenly and stronglyAbate (v) become less intenseThrice (adv) three timesEntrails (n) internal organsTax (v) to confront someone with an accusation of wrong-doingThy (determiner) yourDiscomfited (adj) uneasy or embarrassedCorroborate (v) confirm or provide evidence to support a theoryBehold (v) see or observe
THE STORY OF KEESH by Jack London
Quiz
Please choose the best option for each of the following questions:
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*For these questions, refer to iClassics iLondon
1. Where did Keesh live?a. The depths of Antarctica b. The rim of the polar seac. Laplandd. Hull
2. What colour are Keesh’s eyes? *a. Greenb. Bluec. Amberd. Darkest brown
3. How did Keesh’s father die?a. He was eaten by a pack of wolvesb. He died bravely in battlec. His bones were crushed by a polar beard. He drowned beneath the ice
4. What is the name of the chief of Keesh’s village?a. Klosh-Kwanb. Aklaq-Anikc. Osha-Opikd. Pakak-Nuvua
5. What complaint does Keesh have about the meat given to him and his family? Select all that apply.a. It is old b. It is toughc. They are never given anyd. It has an unusual quantity of bonese. They are vegetarianf. It is the meat of the polar bear
6. What promise does Keesh make before leaving the council room?a. That he will kill all that laugh at himb. That he will be the chief of the village one dayc. That he will never touch meat againd. That the meat he hunts will always be divided fairly
7. What does Keesh bring with him along the shore-line the next day? Select all that apply.a. His bowb. Lots of arrowsc. A great swordd. Half of the village’s supply of meate. His father’s hunting spear
8. What does Ikeega put on her face in token of her grief?a. Black paintb. The soot of seal-oilc. The blood of the polar beard. A dark veil
9. How many days passed while Keesh was away from the village?a. 10b. 7c. 1d. 3
10. Keesh sends the men to collect the meat of what animals?a. Three bearsb. Five penguinsc. One beard. A pack of wolves
THE STORY OF KEESH by Jack London
Quiz
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*For these questions, refer to iClassics iLondon
THE STORY OF KEESH by Jack London
11. How many times more dangerous is it to kill a mother bear and cubs as opposed to an ordinary polar bear?a. 9 times more dangerousb. It is less dangerousc. 3 times more dangerousd. 100 times more dangerous
12. Why is it so important to cut up the carcass of a kill in the north?a. Otherwise the whole carcass freezes solidb. So that scavengers won’t steal the whole killc. Because it is an important spiritual tradition
13. Why does Keesh say to Klosh-Kwan that he only hunts bears?a. Because his father was killed by a bearb. Because bears are the most dangerous preyc. Because there is more meat on a beard. Because he finds it so easy
14. What does Keesh ask the men and women of the village to build for him?a. A giant ice palaceb. A bigger iglooc. The biggest hunting sled in the north
15. Other than the big igloo, what other prosperity does Keesh’s mother come to enjoy?a. She was respected as the first woman in the villageb. She was given more meat than everyone elsec. She received all the gold her heart desired d. She never had to do another day’s work
16. What happens when you tap Keesh’s unfinished new igloo? *a. All the villagers quickly rush in to finish it offb. It meltsc. Keesh and his mother come to the door, smilingd. A young igloo builder struggles to place a block of ice
17. What accusation does Ugh-Gluk eventually make to Keesh’s face?a. That he deals with evil spiritsb. That he is not diving the meat fairlyc. That he is plotting to overthrow the chiefd. That he is trying to steal Ugh-Gluk’s wife
Quiz
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18. What does the council decide one night after long deliberation?a. To take away Keesh’s igloob. To ban the hunting of polar bearsc. To spy on Keesh huntingd. To banish Ugh-Gluk
19. What happens when you tap the he-bear Keesh comes across? *a. He gives a mighty roarb. He turns and walks awayc. Keesh cuts of his headd. He curls in a ball and falls asleep
20. What does Keesh drop on the floor as he runs away from the bear?a. An oddly shaped pebbleb. A little round ballc. His hunting speard. His arrows
21. What do the little round balls do to the bear?a. They cause him to fall into a deep slumberb. They cause him to squeal and cry in painc. They have no effectd. They make him even angrier
22. Where does Keesh finally kill the bear?a. On the shore-lineb. Near to where he first came across himc. 10 leagues from the village
23. What are the little round balls that Keesh uses to help kill the bears?a. Rocks enchanted with magical propertiesb. Poisoned pellets of meatc. Ordinary snow ballsd. Strips of whalebone frozen in blubber
24. What happens when you run your finger over Keesh’s face on the last page?a. He turns into a polar bearb. He becomes an old man c. He laughs enigmatically d. He turns and disappears into the snow storm
THE STORY OF KEESH by Jack London
Writing
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For each of the scenarios below, explain what you think each of the characters would do in this situation. Explain why they would do this, based on the personality descriptions and evidence you completed in the Character Activity.
Extension: now, choose one of the scenarios and write it out in full as a short story, including your characters reaction. Give it a beginning, a middle, and an ending. Try to mimic the style of writing used by London in The Story of Keesh.
THE STORY OF KEESH by Jack London
a. A group of mysterious but weary wanderers arrive at the village, asking for food and shelter. They look completely different to the villagers and some are concerned that they may be dangerous.
b. The ice around the village begins to melt, threatening to leave the village stranded without access to the rest of the world (including their food supply).
c. A young woman comes to the council and asks to be allowed to train as a hunter, because she is as brave and strong as any man.
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